Executive Search I

Director Level

Director-Level Recruitment for Scaling SMEs.

We recruit director level talent for SMEs with turnovers between £20M and £250M - businesses that need experienced, agile, and strategically aligned directors to help them grow, transform, or exit.

Appoint commercially focused Directors who deliver real impact

Whether you're strengthening your board, entering a new market, restructuring, or gearing up for acquisition, we deliver the right people — fast, and without the inflated fees of traditional executive search firms.

In the past two years, we’ve filled 100% of our retained director-level assignments with leaders who not only meet the brief, they help redefine it.

From growth through acquisition to pre-exit readiness, our candidates have helped SMEs double revenue, enter new markets, and achieve multi-million-pound valuations.

How It Works: Our Search Process

Recruit director level talent in 12 weeks or less.

  • We begin every project with a formal strategy discussion to fully understand your business, structure, growth plans, and the leadership challenges you face. We confirm the scope of the role, commercial objectives, timescales, and fee terms before initiating any search activity.

  • Once terms are agreed, we prepare a detailed Assignment Brief outlining the role, responsibilities, business context, cultural environment, and ideal candidate profile. This document is approved by you and used to brief candidates consistently and professionally throughout the process.

  • We carry out a focused headhunting campaign across relevant sectors and leadership networks. This includes direct outreach, discreet advertising, referrals, and competitor mapping — tailored to attract commercially aligned directors with the capability to lead in fast-paced SME environments.

  • All shortlisted candidates are interviewed by our senior consultants and complete our in-depth Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ). This provides deep insight into each candidate’s leadership style, career history, and operational decision-making — going well beyond a standard CV.

  • We present a carefully curated shortlist including candidate CVs, detailed consultant commentary, and SAQ insights. You’ll receive clear, structured feedback and comparative recommendations to support your selection process.

  • Once you’ve progressed to second-stage interviews, we conduct thorough, confidential verbal referencing. This includes targeted conversations with past colleagues to verify performance, leadership impact, and cultural fit — giving you complete confidence in your final decision.

  • We support you through salary discussions, offer negotiation, and onboarding. Because our fees are fixed and not linked to salary level, we maintain complete objectivity — focusing solely on securing the right long-term appointment for your business.

What sets us apart?

Specialist, Senior-Led Delivery

Every assignment is led by an experienced consultant - never passed to junior staff. We bring commercial acumen, market insight, and real leadership experience to every project, ensuring your search is handled with the focus and expertise it deserves.

Deeper Candidate Insight: The SAQ

Our proprietary Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ) gives you unrivalled insight into each candidate’s leadership style, motivations, and behaviours. It goes far beyond a CV, helping you make better-informed decisions.

Unrivalled Candidate Reporting

Every candidate is presented with detailed consultant commentary, behavioural insight, and performance history, not just a CV. Our reports give you clarity, comparison, and the confidence to assess fit across strategic, cultural, and operational dimensions.

Fee Structures Built for SMEs

We offer transparent, fixed fees designed around the realities of SME budgets, without the inflated pricing models of traditional firms. You receive board-level quality with flexible terms and no hidden extras.

Access to Exceptional Talent

With over 30 years of experience, we have built deep networks across leadership functions. We find proven directors and rising leaders who are ready to create impact in fast-moving, scaling businesses.

Agile, Focused, Results-Driven

We’re an agile business, able to move quickly, adapt to your timelines, and stay aligned with your goals. We typically deliver fully assessed shortlists within 4–6 weeks, without compromising quality or process.

Our Fees

  • At Adderleys, we believe executive search should be high quality, not high cost.

    That’s why we offer a clear, fixed-fee model designed specifically for scaling SMEs. Our fees are agreed upfront and stay fixed, regardless of the final salary offered.

  • We operate on a fixed three-stage retained model, structured around the actual consultancy input required at each stage:

    1. Retainer – Engagement and briefing

    2. Working Fee – Presentation of fully assessed shortlist

    3. Appointment Fee – Final candidate acceptance and onboarding support

    This approach ensures full commitment at every stage — from both sides — and gives you total cost certainty from day one.

  • We agree your fee upfront based on the role’s salary band, not on what’s negotiated later. That means you stay in control of your budget.

    No Minimum Fees

    Unlike traditional firms, we don’t impose minimum charges. Our pricing is flexible and accessible, making board-level recruitment realistic for ambitious SMEs.

    Value-Driven, Not Volume-Driven

    Our fees reflect the real strategic input, research, and senior consultant time we invest in every assignment, not a formula tied to inflated final salaries.

    Designed to Outperform Big Firms

    Big firms often charge FTSE-style fees for SME assignments. We don’t. Our model delivers the same calibre of leadership, at a price that fits your scale and priorities.

Looking to recruit? Let’s talk

Interested in working together? Let us know and we will be in touch shortly.